Fitness for radical treatment of lung cancer patients

Abstract

<h3>Educational aims</h3> To discuss the strengths and weaknesses of lung function tests, exercise tests and split-function studies used to assess fitness before lung resection To outline the importance of the perioperative management of lung cancer patients To understand the lack of clear recommendations and the need for further studies to assess fitness before chemoradiotherapy <h3>Summary</h3> Surgical pulmonary resection and chemoradiotherapy both induce significant mortality and morbidity in lung cancer patients. Many studies have intended to identify the patients at increased risk of treatment-induced complications. In this review, we will describe the various tests proposed to assess fitness before radical treatment of lung cancer. We will also consider the strategies aimed at using the less invasive and most powerful investigations, summarised as functional algorithms in scientific societies9 guidelines. The main recent studies, published after the guidelines were available, will also be reviewed.